Central locking mechanism

Abstract

In the blocked position of the central locking mechanism the locking bolt projects into the path of a blocking face of the drawer and can be elastically displaced when closing a drawer which is still open. In the open (unblocked) position of the central locking mechanism a stopping face which is arranged at a distance from the blocking face butts against a lever arm of the locking bolt when withdrawing the drawer and swivels the locking bolt into the blocking position; when closing the drawer the locking bolt is swivelled back into the release position.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. A central locking mechanism for an item of furniture having a plurality of drawers arranged side by side or one above the other comprising a blocking projection and a second projection spaced from said blocking projection having a stopping face thereon integral with each of said drawers and arranged transversely to the sliding direction of the respective drawer, a locking bolt extending beyond all of said drawers pivotable about a stationary axis into the path of movement of the blocking projections, said stationary axis extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the locking bolt so that the closed drawers cannot be withdrawn and said locking bolt, in the locked position of the central locking mechanism, being pivotable against the force of a spring out of the blocked position when an opened drawer is being closed, a driving member, a bistable member coupling said driving member and said locking bolt, said locking bolt being connected to a lever arm which, in the unlocking position of the locking bolt, projects into the path of said stopping face so that the stopping face is engageable with the lever arm when opening a drawer and the locking bolt is pivotable into the locking position. 
     
     
       2. A locking mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said locking bolt and lever arm comprise the legs of an angle section. 
     
     
       3. A locking mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the stationary pivot axis of the locking bolt extends within the angle formed by the legs of the angle section. 
     
     
       4. A locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the blocking projection of each drawer is providing with an oblique face engageable with and adapted to displace by such engagement the lever arm when the drawer is closed. 
     
     
       5. A locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said driving member comprises a plate arranged to pivot about the pivot axis of the locking bolt an actuating member operatively connected to the said plate in such a manner that the plate is pivoted upon actuation of said actuating member, said bistable member being arranged on the said plate in pivotable manner, said bistable member comprising a two-armed lever, one arm of the said lever having an elongated slot formed in one arm thereof extending in the longitudinal direction of the lever, a pin member connected to said locking bolt projecting into and slidable within said elongated slot, said pin member being located closer to the pivot axis of the locking bolt than the pivot axis of the lever, and the other arm of the lever being connected with the pivot axis of the locking bolt by means of a tension spring, the pivot angle of the two-armed lever between the two stable positions being at least approximately 45°.